title: Significant practice pattern variations associated with intracranial pressure monitoring.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to describe nursing practice in the care of patients with intracranial pressure monitoring. Although standards for care of such patients have been established, there continue to be variations in the nursing practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an observational study in which data were collected from 28 nurse-patient dyads at 16 different hospitals across the United States. Each dyad was observed for 2 hours; nursing actions and patient responses including intracranial pressure readings were documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differences in the care of patients with intracranial pressure monitoring were prevalent. Variations in practice were prompted by healthcare provider prescriptions as well as nursing decisions. Prescriptions and interventions were often not supported by the available scientific evidence.
  For more insights from the authors, see Supplemental Digital Content 1, at http://links.lww.com/JNN/A7.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA. DaiWai.Olson@UTsouthwestern.edu
authors.forename: DaiWai M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Lisa S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Mary Kay
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Bader
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bautista
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malloy
authors.forename: Kristina E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Riemen
authors.forename: Molly M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: McNett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D064648:Critical Care Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000451:nursing*; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000451:nursing* / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011364:Professional Practice; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014481:United States